Supporting and adjusting mechanism



April 14, 93l s. J.,LONERGAN 1,800,737

SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MECHANISM APY 14,' 1931 s. J. LONERGAN 1,800,737

SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed May 15, '1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNTED STATES SIIMON LONERGAN, F LA PORTE, INDIANA SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MECHANISM Application led May 15,

This invention relates to a visor, Vmore particularly to a visor that is adjustable and the mechanism for adjusting and supporting the visor.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting and adjusting mechanism that is relatively simple and easily operated.

Another object of the invention is to profide a mechanism of this character that is operable from within the vehicle. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character that may be readily attached or mounted on the vehicle. y

Another object of the invention is to construct a mechanism of this character in which separate means are provided for locking the visor in its adjusted position.

Arfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved connection between the visor and the adjusting elements, whereby opera-tion or adjustment of the visor is easily effected.

Gther objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to. which my invention relates from the following` description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of a vehicle and a visor therefor, and a sup- Aporting and an adjusting mechan'ism for the visor (being on the line 1 1 of Fig. 5) embodying my invention.

05 Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side view with parts broken away. n

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views on the lines 7 7 and 8 8, respectively, of Fig. 6.

E In the drawings, l indicates a vehicle (only a portion thereof being shown) preferably of the closed type, having` a windshield la disposed between front side pillars l?) and a top or roof 10. which preferably overhangs 50 the windshield, as shown in Fig. l. 2, 3,

1926. Serial N0. 109,426.

indicate cross members (to be later referred to) forming structural parts of the vehicle l and its top le. The windshield la may consist of one or more sections of glass, and each may be movable for ventilation purposes. In the form of construction chosen for illustration herein, the windshield la is adjustable vertically, being slidable in suitable guides on the inner opposing walls of the pillars lb. It will be understood that the above referred to elements or portions constituting the vehicle structure may be variously constructed and form no part of my present invention.

4 indicates as an entirety a visor, preferably formed of glass that is colored, whereby the light rays from any source are iiltered to protect the eyes of the driver as well as to eiect or permit vision on his part and etcient operation of the vehicle. The visor 4 preferably comprises a section of glass 4a mounted in a frame consisting of an upper bar 4b and side bars 4c, the former bar being hinged at 5 along its front upper edge to the under-side of the overhanging portion of the top lo. The bars for the glass 4a may be formed from sheet metal, preferably of hollow form, and grooved to receive the edge of the glass 4a, as shown at 47) in Fig. 7.A As shown in Fig. 5, one part 5a of the hinge is secured to the bar 4Z) and the other hinge part 5b is secured to said underside portion and the member 3, as shown in Fig. l. The binge 5 may be of the piano type and extend from end to end of the bar 4?).

6 indicates as an entirety a supporting and adjusting mechanism arranged to support the 4visor 4 at any desired position, for example, see dotted lines in Fig. 1, and to move or adjust it to other positions to suit the wishes of the driver. In one position, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, the visor may be arranged in a vertical position, substantially at right angles to the line of vision, and locked in such position by my improved mechanism 6, and by the release and operation of the latter the visor 4 may be moved to and locked in a substantially horizontal position or any intermediate position.

'Y Of the supportingandadjusting mechalnisi'n 6, 7 indicates a base plate to which are rigidly secured-preferably by screws 7akthe feet 8 of spaced supports 8a. The base lplate 7 and feet 8 are formed with aligned openings 9 through whichthe screws or other suitable devices pass tto secure the supports 8a in rigid relation *to the inner lface of the bar '2, within thevehicle 1. As will be un derstood from Fig. the mechanismisdisposed substantially ymid-way between the p illarslb,y whereby it is lout of 4thelinenof vision of the driver and within easy reach eitherfor the driver or any other occupa-nt that may be inthe vehicle. 10 indicates a shaft 'mounted vnon-rotatively -at its opposite ends in the supportsSa/f. As-shownlin Figs. 2,-?) and '4, ythe ends L1100i ofthe shaft are'of polygonal shape'and li't intocor-responding'ly vshaped openings 11 formed inlthe supports i Sagfsuchconstruction resulting in -the protainedi'gand partly, because it may 'begas sen'ibled on the shaft l10 without regar l-to 4its angular.positionpvhereas with asegmen v rack, predetermined; positions would have 'to be `provided for yand vskilledfmechaiiics andv inspectors Erequired to) insure accu"raue sembly. 13 indicates. 'an operating device having to'ne'ir more .elements '14' which co-aet with lthe rack 12 to feifect aH locking of vthe operating device or its release. '.lhe operating @device 13 comprises' va handle '13av provided with bifurcations `1^3b"forming .hubs rotatably .mounted on the shaft l1 at lopposite sides oftheracl12 andhaving ears 15 to which ispivoted one endpof a connection 16 between fthe operating "device l?) and visor 4, as vill 'later 'be set-forth. `The operating device '13 is preferably of sectional form, consisting-offtwo members y13,', 13970,` secu-redt()- f gether by screws 13 0,`the member '13m .having a longitudinal' wal-l 13m?, to vspace the bifurcae tions .apart and .form `recesses for locking .and .releasingfplevers 17,.; The levers 17 are cpivoted intermediate their ends ,on Ypivots A1S extending transversely across @the -recesse's Aand .mountedi'in openings formed inthe walls of the meinbers13,f13m.l The' outer vends of the-levers'. `17 serve :as handles whereas [their `inner ends carry thelockfing and releasing elements ,14, each ofwhiohisladapted to` fit k.ifntoga -iiaelespace'torloek the operating device to theirvar'ikand.to be .releasedltherefronr 19 indicates means engaging the levers 17 tal and normally operating to maintain them in locked relation to the rack 12. ln the preferred form of construction the means 19 consists of a single coiled spring disposed between and mounted so that its opposite ends bear against the handleportions 17 a of the levers 17 so as to normallynseparate them and thereby normally maintain the locking elements in locking relation with the rack, as shown in Fig. 1. In this form of con* structionfthe wall 13m" is formed with an opening 19a so .that the opening in'aypass` therethrough` and freely operate. As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 3, the spring 19 normally maintains the handle portions 17a of the levers 17 outwardly with respect Vto the wall 13m of the handle 13a, so that whenzthe .driver grips the handle 13a he :also grips both handle portions 17a and by a squeezing operation `he :may operate .the levers to unlock them `and ythen swing the operating rdevice 13 tothe .desired position; then upon relaxing'of his grip the levers automatically become .locked to theracl 12 under the innuence of the spring 19. It will thus be seen that theoperationof unlocking or releasing the v.operating device 13, its inovernenttov adj ustifthe visor 4f and `the locking of the operating. device 13 :in it'sadjusted positiominay be effected with one hand of the driver and by' substantially one .movenient, since the vcompression ofthe drvers hand Lto compress :the lever handles 17a, the movement of the lhandfor armftoeiie'ctthe ad.- jiistmentand .the release of {the lever handles and .incidental .to .the gripping of :the handle 13 .Ito move it therefrom. .f I It will be understood'that only one lever "17 a nd lool'iinglelement- 14 is required to leiiect theI operations .and 'results already .referred to, but I preferito provide and use two levers, since a more positivelocki-ng action results and less strain-lis'-imparted to the "rack, its sup-porting 'element-:tlie-shaft '10e-.fand :the

supports 18a. for 'the latter and .bothxlevers 17 `can :beloperated and released simultaneous; ly and without additional labor or effort .on

thepart of the driver.

' 20 indicates wall for a enclosing thehubs and the removal: of the` hand l L13b land the gear or rack 12.' The wall 20 comprises a section vof relatively'thinsheet 4metal extending 'from the lower edges vof the Vof disks" and "slightly :larger thanV the hubs 13b) tol the opposite edges of the feet-fthe iii'st referredV to end ofthe wallf2@ bei-ii provided with'jbent over Ylugs 21 whicniit into yslots22 formed'in the iside walls of thelsupports 8a and the' last -referredto endo'f .the

wall 'being Aprovided'with `a Vflange 23 that.

4feetaaroundt'he peripheriesoffthe supports 8a (thelatter being. Vpreferably in the' form Y the manner to be later set forth.

supportfs 8a but is formed with an elongated slot 20a to permit the swinging movement of the operating device 13, in the manner already set forth, and with a slot 20o to accommodate the movement of the connection 16, as shown in Fig. 1; For this latter purpose, the base plate 7 is cut away at 7a and the cross member 2 is formed with an opening 2a, when the supporting and adjusting mechanism 6 is mounted as shown in the drawings.

The connection 16 is pivotally connected at its outer end to the visor 4, preferably in The connection 16 may comprise male and female members 16a, 16?), respectively, the latter at its outer end being provided with a lug 167) in which is formed an opening 16e to receive a pivot pin supported at its opposite ends inthe ears 15. The inner end of the member 162) is formed with a screw threaded opening 26 to receive the threaded shank 27 of the male member 16a (see F ig. 1). lhe pivot l 25 may consist of a pin yextending through one ear 15 and the lug 16?/ and threaded into the other ear 15, as shown in Fig. 2.

28 indicates an arm having a depending portion disposed rearwardly of the glass 4a and connected thereto at its lower end. y)This connection of the arm 28 to the visor 4 is preferably at a point remote from its hinge 5, so that the force required to swing or adjust the visor is reduced. The connection may comprise a pair of relatively soft washers 29 upon opposite sides of the glass and in concentric relation to an opening 30 therethrough and an opening 31 formed in the arm 28 and a bolt 32 passing through said openings and the washers and engaging the ex posed face of the arm and exposed face of the outer washer -to clamp these parts and the visor together in rigid relation. At its upierend, the arm is bent back on itself to form a hook 33 which hangs on the pivot pin or rod of the hinge the plate 5b of the latter and the cross. member 3 being cut away to permit of this arrangement and movement of the hook 33. Between the depending portion of the arm 28 and the l1()olr33, the arm is preferably shaped to form a semi-spherical socket 34 to receive a spherical element The element 35 is secured in the socket 34 by a cap or strap 36 secured at its ends to the arm 28 upon opposite sides of the socket 3x `by screws 37. The spherical element is V slotted at 35a to receivevthe outer end of the male member 16a and formed with openings at either side of the slot 35a to receive trun nions 38`by means of which the male member 16a is pivcted to the spherical element 7 Vbers 16a, 1629, and adj ustably connecting them `together the length of the connection may be varied so that the extreme positions of the visor 4 may be changed at will.

39 indicates as an entirety an auxiliary locking means for the operating device 13, preferably interposed between one of the supports 8a and the adjacent hub 13?). Of these means, 39a indicates an opening formed in one of the supports. 39?) indicates a tubular member mounted at its inner end in the opening 39a, the wall of the opening and outer wall of the member 39?) being provided with screw threads to provide for the rigid mounting of the latter on the support. The outer end of the tubular member 39?) is closed by an end wall 390, but such wall is formed with an opening 39d to slidably and rotatably support the outer end of a plunger or locking pin 40, the inner portion thereof being provided with a collar 40a which slidably and rotatably fits the inner wall of the member 3919. 41 indicates a device, such as an enlarged collar fixed to the vouter end of the plunger 40 whereby it may be moved endwise or rotated for purposes to be later set forth. The inner l end of the plunger 40 is tapered and is adapted to project into any one of a series of tapered openings or recesses 42 formed in the outer face of the adjacent hub 13?) to lock the latter and through it the operating device 13 inanyofitsadjustedpositions. Bypreference there is one opening or recess for each space formed between the rack teeth, that is, throughout the range of movement of the hubs 13b relativeto the gear 12, so that in any 100 position to which the device 13 may be adjust-ed and locked, it may belockedtherein by the auxiliary locking means 39. 43 indicates a. spring coiled around the plunger 40 and interposed between the end wall 390 and the collar 40a and normally actingthrough the latter to move the plunger 40 inwardly and thus yieldingly maintain it in one of the openings 42. To release the plunger 40 from the adjacent opening, the device 41 is grasped and pulled or pushed laterally. As shown at 44, the outer fac-e of the wall 390 is formed with a diametrically extending groove or channel and the plunger carries a laterally extending pin 44a, which fits into this channel when the inner end of the plunger 40 is projected into one of the openings 42, but by moving the plunger outwardly and rotating it to dispose the pin 44aj at an angle to the channel 44, the pin will engage the outer face of the wall 390 and thus maintain the plunger 40 in inoperative position, in which position the operating device, upon release of the locking elements 14, may be freely mov-ed in either direction. To actuate the auxiliary lock 39, all that is necessary is to rotate the plunger 40 until the pin 44a is aligned with the channel 44, whereupon the spring 43 will operate the plunger 40 and cause it to project into the cliv Afacenti :opening thus nterlQ-ek the sapessi :.5 and 1.36 tegetlier.-

eri'lnekingmeenefmevbe lieper eS-tienetWill-Oibreeght inte epemtie.- 'needy-lend quek -mennen When adjustment' 0f the viser e. ie .tezbe "made, `fil-1e ausiliare Vis made impera* ;-end if requent adjustment-e ane/.te vbe ma. e, .fit may be held: in its inoperative. .1305ition.. Where any adjustment of the -visor has @nee been mede and further adjustment will .net be neeeeearv for seme time., the eu'X-f ilary lacking .means .may .be Operated.Y The pnrpose'of .the ,auxiliary llock-ing means ,39 -is t0 .eliminate-strain 101.1 the leekn-g elemente. .14 anfdleearfteeth .Hand-t0 reduee'the Wear en the latten-.the elect'of which Wouldbe to set 11p-a rattle betweenthesepapts By making Y the :f1-ee ,end of the lplunger .and the openings there-for tapered, danger of vibration is elimin nated.

YIn my Vf eonstruetion of adj ustment mechanism, [the operating ldevi'ce is Within the veyliieleand its .eenneeten with .the viser emade ina simple and-eeonomeal .manner- .By e11- lranging the Melting .elements `in :the plane in ,which the. .connection 1116 Opere-fes and @Oef neetinpjrv the latterfat .opposite sides of .these l elements te the -Qperatiledeviee .the connec-v tien 1,6 and through it the visor InesyleefPOS/- .tivelyand easilyo .erated i .Byerrengng t e geen@ between the bi` 1 nreations gl-3b., .and'fthe latter between the simpelste @aand support-.ing the-gear and 101+ l ,ffureatene-on :a Shaftthat ssupperted at itsV l Aends leyf'ellese :Supports-8e, Iwv het ronly ,Provide l a lsimple construction wbut v one vin which. the

nente-.maybe easily madetet end-meve-rele- ,tively to each-.other Without-danger of Wob- .bling er eifeetng e shearing .action Y.0.1.1 fthe Shaft-- f i nFigSbTa-nd,lh'ave fllu'stratedaslightlygdiier. nt form.otconstrnction Whereinthe L @tie-n 116- s .n'votally `eoriiieeteel to the np erbarlof he-.viser .T Iiilthese views,

geplatejh 'is securcd'tothe crossmemberi, Whereas ,thehinge Aplate aris disposed on and secured to the end Wallof the bar 4b.

-' r -intermediate its ends,-t'he inner Wal-l and end Wall 'of -thejbar lbf-are cutaway to receive a connecting #member flv'hich may be secured 'in suchcutaway-portionfby screws 46 a-ndipro- @vid-ed with V:knuckles 47 `for the hinge pivot.

" 'lletaveenfits ends, the member 45 is formed with 1 aslot .48:to receive the outer .end of the leV in iembenla .ofthe connection 16, and

Mwhich an @peiling .-50 formed inft-he mem- 6.a, afplvet rpin 5.1., :te .,pvotelly .eenneet the member ilavtbtbe aviser fe, :Where- 1 the lattereinayfbefQperated-.to the position vngindettedlinesin Fig-8.,- Y' u e skilled in Itllefeift t0 lWhieh my 'in'h eine description .it Awill bie .ed on the handle.

` l. ...atea menyehe'eeee in construe;

tion and vde-lv differing' embodiments and applic-ations of the invention will suggest themselves :Without departing from the spirit and scope of: the invention.. lMy vdisclosmes and-the descriptionjherein are purelyillustrativo and are not -intendedto bein any .senselimiting. Y VVhatI claimis:..- l

l. In mechanism ofthe class described, the combination with a vehiclehaving a Wind.-

shield and a bar disposed above said Windtionary member having locking elements disposed concentric lto the. axis VonY which said device swings and a member pivotally mounted on and movable with said device and ar.- ranged to `engage yand, disengage said lockmgelements. l

2. In mechanism-of theclass described, the combination with a vehicle having la Winch shield and a visor movablylnounted fon said vehicle in ,operative relation. to said Windshield, `,of a support carried bythe-frame of the vehicle, a .shaft mounted .onsaid support, a handle V.freely mounted on said shaft,` a connection bet-Ween said handle ,and said visor whereby thesWi-nging of :said handle about saidshaft will adjust the visor relative'tosaid Windshield, and locking andreleyasing means betweenl saidhandle and said" shaft, lsaid .mea-ns including an element movablyv mount- 3. lei-.mechanism as claimedinclaim 2 .in

which an auxiliary locking-means, is pro;-

vided lbetween one of said supports-and said ,hand-le, comprising mechanismrfor prevent- .ing relative movement between saidsupport" and said handle.

4. Amechanism oftheclass described`,'tl1e Y .combination With a; vehicle having a VWinds shield and av visor movably'nionnted lon said Y- vvehicle for movement Withirespect vto said Windshield, of a .pair ,of spaced supportson jthe frame yof'.sa'idvehicle betweenthe sides 'of said Windshield, ze*.Shafteileli-retetively sup.-

.ported on said supports, an operating device sivingably mounted on saidgshaJ/:l conneetion between said devicefandsaid ivisor,

and locking and releasingjelements carried.

.epeetvela enel ermee-'edm leek lthe..1ettei in faebneted,neeitiemthe element, Carried :by :Said

.iso

CTI

device being movable in the same plane as said device moves in moving to adjust said visor.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2 in which the locking element on said shaft comprises a rack and the element on said handle comprises a lever, and means are provided for normally maintaining said lever in engagement with said rack.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 9. in which the locking element on said shaft comprises a gear and said operating device carries two elements arranged to engage said gear at dierent points in its circumference, and means are provided Vfor normally maintaining said elements in engagement with said gear.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshield and a visor hinged to the vehicle frame, of an adjustment mechanism for said visor including an operating device, an arm pivoted on the vehicle frame and depending outwardly relative to the hinge for said visor, a connection pivotally connected at its ppo site ends to said operating device and said arm, and a connection between the outer portions of said arm and said visor.

S. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshield and a visor hinged to the vehicle frame, of an adjustment mechanism for said visor including an operating device, an arm pivoted on the vehicle frame intermediate the sides of said visor and depending outwardly relative to the hinge for said visor and behind the latter, a connection pivotally con` nected at its opposite ends to said operating device and said arm, and a connection between the outer portions of said arm and said visor.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshieldand a visor movably mounted on said vehicle for movement with respect to said windshield, of a pair of spaced supports on the frame of said vehicle, a shaft non-rota tively supported on said supports, a raclr fixed to said shaft, an operating device having bifurcations straddling said rack and swingably mounted on said shaft, a lever carried by said operating device, and arranged to engage said rack to lock said device in adjusted position, and a connection between said one of said bifurcations and said visor.

10. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshield and a visor movably mounted on said vehicle for movement with respect to said windshield, of a pair of spaced supports mounted within said vehicle and above and between the sides of said windshield, a shaft non-rotatively supported on said supports, a rack carried by said shaft. an operating device having bifurcations straddling said rack and swingably mounted on said shaft, a lever carried by said device and arranged to engage said rack to lock said device in adjusted position, and a connection between said device and said visor and extending through an opening in the vehicle, whereby said visor may be adjusted.

11. A mechanism as claimed in claim in which said rack comprises a gear, the operating device is provided with two levers ar ranged to engage the gear at different points in its circumference and a spring is interposed between said levers and normally operates to maintain them in engagement with said gear.

12. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshield, a visor movably connected to the vehicle for adjustment relative to said windshield, of a mechanism for adjusting said visor, said mechanism comprising a device swingably mounted within said vehicle on the frame thereof, a connection between said device and said visor, means for locking said device in any position 0f its adjustment, and an auxiliary locking means for locking said device in any position of its adjustment independent from said first mentioned locking means.

13. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a vehicle having a windshield and a visor, movably mounted on said vehicle in operative relation to said windshield, of a pair of spaced supports carried by the frame of the vehicle, a shaft mounted at its opposite ends on said sup ports, a handle freely mounted on said shaft between said supports, a connection between said handle and said visor, locking and releasing means between said handle and said shaft whereby adjustment of said visor may be effected, and auxiliary locking means for locking said handle to one of said supports comprising a spring pressed pin mounted on one of said supports and adapted to engage a series of openings in said handle.

14. In mechanism of the class described, in combination with a vehicle having a windshield and a visor movably mounted on the vehicle in operative relation to the windshield, of a support carried by the frame of the vehicle, a shaft mounted on said support, a handle freely mounted on said shaft, a connection between said handle and the visor, locking and releasing means between said handle and said shaft whereby adjustment of said visor may be eected, auxiliary lock ing means between said handle and said support, and means for holding said auxiliary locking means in an inoperative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SIMON J. LONERGAN. 

